Join us on our journey of the canals and rivers of Britain's inland waterways.

Tuesday, 18 October 2011

A short day

Promise of good weather today (Tuesday 11 Oct) at 07:45

Before setting off we pulled into the service at Thrupp to empty the waste tank and were surprised when our BW pre-paid cards didn't work in the pump out machine. No problem though we purchased a couple from the TCCC warden. We'd been experiencing 'odours' when the tank was only half full recently and believed that it was because when using the BW pump-outs not knowing how long the machine runs for we tend to not rinse out as thoroughly as we should in case it stops before we're able to completely empty the tank. So today we did 2 pumpouts, half filling the tank with water and rocking the boat to 'get things moving' then pumped out again. It seems to have worked.

I think that all pump-out machines should show the number of minutes it will run making it easier to judge how best to operate it to best advantage.

It was nearly 11 by the time we'd cruised past the very long line of moored boats of TCCC members

Shipton Weir Lock is the same unusual shape as the one at Aynho. Rock n Roll is too long at 62' to tie up on the sides to stop her from wandering all over the place and too short to keep her still between the two gates - does anyone know the reasoning behind the shape of these locks - perhaps they would fit two short boats?

The countryside here is rugged to say the least!

I decided to walk a while after Baker's Lock and saw these huge signal dishes on the far side of the canal - a listening post perhaps?

The River Cherwell runs just a towpath distance away from the canal here ...

... very close to this place

I was going to open Caravan Lift Bridge but lucky for me it was already open so I continued my walk

Just before Pigeon Lock I found a good spot to moor for lunch and George wanted needed to de-gunge the tank-watch probes in the waste tank in as secluded a place as we could find!

I'm now back on the boat and George is on the towpath setting the locks for me.

Plenty of information boards around Pigeon Lock - the one above shows the way to the Post Office Stores, Hotel and pub ...

... and this one about the Oxford Canal Walks ...

... not sure I like this barn conversion though.

I wish I could have reached to pick a few of these pears!

There's George in the distance striding out along the now tree lined canal to set the next lock ...

... but before then signalled me in to a great mooring for a BBQ and a peaceful night. Molly is checking what's going on over the River Cherwell which is once again on the other side of the towpath.
Great BBQ, good internet, phone and tv signal too - couldn't be better!

2 comments:

The reason for the wide locks is to send more water down the canal. The locks below them are much deeper, so if the shallow locks were just normal width the pound in between would eventually run out of water. Putting two boat in one of the diamond shaped locks would defeat the purpose: they'd take one lockful down with them, then use two at the next one.